So walking down the street here yesterday, I ran into a sign and was handed a postcard, declaring:

“Sin Awareness Day”

Then I was confronted by a gentleman (or not so gentle) who proceeded to explain to me that I–and everyone else–are sinners!

Innocently, I ask, “Well, what have I done?”

The missionary answers with a stern face, “I’m sure you have lied!”

I said, “I don’t think so,” but then to play alone, I smirked and said, “Well what if I did?”

He answers and says, “You’ll need to repent!”

Thinking that Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) is right around the corner in a couple of weeks, I thought to myself, hey that’s right in line with where I’m going anyway…

The guy continues–of course–to try to enlist me to his “savior” that he believes can save us from all our sins.

I challenged and said, “Well, how about Moses?”

He roars back, “Moses?!!!” and starts railing on about “convert, convert, convert.”

Uh no, thank you, I am fine with the faith of my father, and grandfathers, and great grandfathers, etc.

And I appreciate if we can avoid the forcible conversion parts of yesteryear from various empires, caliphates, crusades, and inquisitions, with no shortage of associated torture, executions, and expulsions.

Then breaking this historical context and glancing at the back of the postcard that he handed out, I did like this one thing that it said:

“Sin is not primarily a measure of how bad you are, but a measure of how good you are not.”

Heck, why be negative about ourselves (we are not inherently bad); instead see that we not living up to our potential and try, always, to do better.

Then watching the news and seeing Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists from Gaza shooting missiles and intentionallyaiming to try to hit major Israeli cities and population centers, airplanes, ports, and other critical infrastructure like the nuclear facility in Dimona that could potentially spread radiation and kill untold numbers of people–I am reminded morality is not universal.

While Israel calls the residents in Gaza to vacate before an attack on then empty buildings–the terrorists that Israel is fighting try to kill as many civilians as possible–at which time, they would presumably sing, dance, and hand out candy to the kids to celebrate as is their custom.

Like the sign calling for tolerance that was essentially torn from the pole, we have to remember tolerance for others is one thing, but there are limits when they actively seek to harm (themselves or) others.